Improvement in oyster-blocks



WILLIAM RANKIN.

Improvement in OysterBlocks.

WILLIAM RANKIN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN OYSTER-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,509, dated February 6, 1872.

Specification describing an Improved Oyster-Block, invented by WILLIAM RANKIN, of the city, county, and State of New York.

Much inconvenience is occasioned by the cutting to pieces or splitting of the wooden bases or sockets in which the cutters of oyster-blocks are commonly secured. The object of this invention is to obtain a more durable block, and at the same time to obviate injury to the oysterknife by the act of chipping off the edges of the shells; and to this end, it consists in the combination of a cutter having a taper shank, with a cast-iron base provided with a taper socket or mortise, a locking-key, and India-rubber face piece, whereby the desired end is attained.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a side view of an oyster-block made according to invention; and Fig. 2is a central vertical section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

A is the base or block proper. It is made considerably larger at the bottom than at the top to afford it stability. In the center of its upper portion it has provided a taper mortise socket, a, which extends into a cavity, 1), in the lower portion of the block. B is the cutter orrest, having ata-per wedge-shaped shank,

which fits Within the taper mortise or socket a in the block A. In the lower portion of the shank of this cutter which projects through the socket a into the cavity 1), there is a hole for the reception of a key, 0, whose ends, projecting under the upper side of the cavity 1), secure the cutter in place. 0 is a face piece of India rubber or other elastic material, which, by being secured on the top B, prevents the knife used in opening oysters from being marred or injured when it slips and strikes the block. A rubber bottom piece, D, is secured to the under side of the block, and insures the stability of the block by preventing it from slipping and shifting its position, and also breaks the concussion otherwise produced on the table or surface upon which it rests when the block receives a heavy blow.

Claim.

The combination of the cutter B, having a taper shank, a, the iron block A provided with a taper socket, b, the key 0, and the rubber face piece (J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WM. RANKIN.

\Vitnesses:

FRED. HAYNES, BENJ. P. SHARP. 

